Florence says 'no' to vendor

FLORENCE -- This summer, children who visit city parks will be no longer have a tradition to look forward to: buying treats from "the ice cream man."

After four years of selling ice cream sandwiches and drum sticks in Florence parks from his white decaled Chevrolet van, "The Ice Cream Man," aka Ken Harrison, learned in April that the city won't allow him to sell anymore in the parks.

Organizations can request Harrison to deliver ice cream to city parks, except Diebert Park, on special occasions, as long as Harrison informs the park rangers, said Mayor Bobby Irons.

Diebert Park, where Harrison gets the majority of his business, is under the Diebert Foundation Board. Whether Harrison can vend on occasion in the park will be up to the board, which has not yet met to discuss the matter.

Harrison will still be able to sell his king-size Snickers and Blue Bell Strawberry Shortcakes throughout the streets of Florence.

"We're just looking out for the safety of our children in our parks," Irons said. "If you open it up for one vendor, you have to open it up for every vendor."

But Harrison, a retired insurance agent, said, "The park is the safest place."

He said that when he rides through the city streets, children run toward his van and some even latch on while riding their bikes and wait until the van stops.

Regardless of the law, children love "The Ice Cream Man."

Gerald Mullins was at Diebert Park one Friday with his daughter, Savana.

"I don't think it's fair; kids -- it's what they look forward to," Mullins said, "That's what we usually come for; she wants to see the ice cream man."

On April 3, Tina Kitchens, parks director, wrote Doug Mitchell, park police supervisor, to notify him about ice cream selling in Veterans Park.

She noted that ice cream selling was prohibited during ball games since, "This is direct competition for the concessions vendor as well as it affects the city's revenue as we get a percentage of the concession sales."

She later wrote, "It doesn't create much of a problem when ball games or special events aren't going on, however, to be consistent, we must enforce the policy."

"We wouldn't allow a T-shirt vendor or an artist to sell their product in the park, either, unless it is a specified special event," Kitchens wrote.

At a city council work session May 15, Harrison defended his business to no avail.

"We can't open up public land for private purposes," said Billy Musgrove, city attorney. "I would like to be able to come up with a way to have this done, but I don't know a way."

Clara James, of Cypress Inn, Tenn., spent a recent Friday afternoon at Diebert Park with two of her grandchildren, Nasser and Zoee.

"The kids get hot and they like ice cream," James said, "Well, they have nothing here for the kids."

When asked if the duo liked the ice cream man, both children nodded vigorously and 8-year-old Nasser's eyes widened as he said, "Yes."

"I can understand them not wanting to bring food in the park," James said, "But ice cream?"

Staff Writer Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com.